Machine produces HDPE milk bottles for ESL packaging 10-20% faster than shuttle or wheel machines, with 10-25% less energy

Uniloy Milacron is meeting consumer and dairy producer’s preference for 3Layer HDPE milk bottles by introducing the first reciprocating blow molding machine capable of producing three-layer extended-shelf-life (ESL) bottles. It surpasses wheel and shuttle machines with 10-20% higher output in a smaller footprint, with 10-25% less energy use.

The latest UMR2000-3L machine system has twelve parisons and can produce and de-flash 5400 one liter non-handled bottles per hour. These bottles weigh 30 grams each, and have a 43 mm neck finish. In production, a foil seal and screw cap complete the package to permit shipping and storage under non-refrigerated conditions. Uniloy is also designing and building a 16 parison machine system on this same product platform which will produce 7,680 one liter 3 layer bottles per hour.

Uniloy also offers its new neck-to-neck blow molding technology where bottles are blown in a log with the tops of the bottles facing each other. This technology can be utilized with or without clean blow and/or three layer capability. The neck-to-neck technology is targeted for one liter or smaller non-handled bottles and essentially doubles the production output.

Uniloy originated the lightweight, handled, plastic milk jug in 1963, and its reciprocating blow molding machine has since become the "industry standard," with more than 3800 in use worldwide. "It's simply the best technology for producing a lightweight three layer HDPE container at the lowest cost," said Richard Smith, Uniloy's director of sales & marketing, reciprocating technologies.

A wide range of head, clamp and extruder selections allows Uniloy Milacron to configure a UMR2000-3L machine to desired production volumes and container specifications. The machine line is available in the same range of container and neck sizes as Uniloy's monolayer reciprocating machines. Uniloy offers its turnkey systems as well, including everything from extrusion tooling, blow molds, trim tooling, trimmers, conveyors, leak detectors, along with machine installation and commissioning. Uniloy also provides turnkey services for plant layouts, conveying equipment, resin handling, fillers, scrap handling and cappers.